According to some of the less savory corners of the Internet, today’s date is synonymous with certain mind-altering substances that make it easier to appreciate unconventional music. While we here at Geekend do not condone these implied activities — the universe is crazy and wonderful enough without actively impairing your faculties — we can recommend some geek-worthy music to enhance your daily experience.
Thus, we present the top 10 nerd-rock artists recording today.
10. John Anealio
BIO: The official guitar teacher of Wired’s GeekDad nerd-instructional empire, he gives away more awesomely geektastic music than most wannabe nerdcore artists and trumped up filk-fest sellouts ever dream of even writing. He’s the underground folk-rock balladeer of the geek era. (Disclosure: John’s a friend and fellow podcaster.)
STYLE: James Taylor as teleporter-fused with the blog of Wil Wheaton.
WHERE YOU (MAYBE) HEARD HIM: “The GeekDad Podcast Theme Song”
SIGNATURE TRACK: “I Should Be Writing”
9. Ookla the Mok
BIO: The ultimate incarnation of sci-fi convention filkdom, this deceptively goofball ensemble offers a surprising range of musical styles and talents — which they use to convert every idle argument you’ve overheard in a comic book shop into a catchy two-minute burst of audio pop.
STYLE: Coffee shop acoustic rock meets Kevin Smith’s PG-rated id.
WHERE YOU (MAYBE) HEARD THEM: Dr. Demento’s Basement Tapes #7 Compilation
SIGNATURE TRACK: “My Secret Identity”
8. Kirby Krackle
BIO: A couple of guys who actually know the nickname for a signature style of illustrating comic book energy blasts — but who also want to be mainstream alt-rockers. Apparently, the Seattle music scene is broad and deep enough to have its own geek subset.
STYLE: Fountains of Wayne as produced by The Simpsons‘ Comic Book Guy.
WHERE YOU (MAYBE) HEARD THEM: Rock Band (the game)
SIGNATURE TRACK: “Up, Up, Down, Down”
7. MC Chris
BIO: The in-house rap artist for Williams Street Studios, which produces Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim animation lineup. When he’s not cutting gangsta-geek rhymes, he’s a scriptwriter for those bizarre nerd-centric cartoons you’re sure are aimed explicitly at college stoners.
STYLE: The Beastie Boys gene-spliced with Patton Oswalt.
WHERE YOU (MAYBE) HEARD HIM: Aqua Teen Hunger Force, where he was the artist behind MC Pee Pants
SIGNATURE TRACK: “Fett’s Vette”
6. Marian Call
BIO: She’s the classically trained Stanford vocal major who made the mistake of listening to the director’s commentaries on a Firefly DVD box set. No, seriously. She now makes a living as a serious indie recording artist treating geek culture with respect.
STYLE: Ingrid Michaelson if she was raised by Joss Whedon.
WHERE YOU (MAYBE) HEARD HER: The 49>50 Tour, which took Call to every U.S. state (and then some)
SIGNATURE TRACK: “I’ll Still Be a Geek After Nobody Thinks It’s Chic”
